JIM CARROLLon music
Some stories just make us cackle with glee. In fact, any story these days that doesn’t involve the music industry doing stupid things to annoy music fans is going to get some lulz.
This week, it’s the tale of Flavor Flav and his prospective chain of Flav’s Fried Chicken restaurants that stands out. Hey, what’s not to like about Flavor Flav and fried chicken? The Public Enemy wingman with a penchant for oversized timepieces has opened his first fried-chicken joint in Clinton, Iowa. The 26,000 people who live in the town – which, food fact lovers, gave the world Godfather’s Pizza founder William Theisen – will be the first to find out if there’s a bang of KFC off a bucket of FFC.
In fact, just to signal his intent in the fried-chicken wars (you did know about the fried-chicken wars, right?), Flav’s first fast-food restaurant is located right next door to a KFC outlet. The Colonel is believed to be nonplussed by the competition, especially as that KFC outlet has been in business since 1963 and has seen off six or seven other competitiors in that time.
Yet every hip-hop act worth their gold teeth and Jacob the Jeweler loyalty card knows that the game is all about expansion and tweaking the brand. As Dan Charnas points out in his excellent book The Big Payback about the history of the hip-hop business, hip-hop has always been about that blending of art and commerce.
Back when Flav was a Def Jam pin-up, though, surely no one thought the day would come when he was flogging fried chicken in a mall in Iowa. It would make a great TV show, all the same.
New Music
STRANGE TALK
Two acts from Down Under to mark last Wednesday's Australia Day. Strange Talk's sprightly electropop, which takes off from where Phoenix and Two Door Cinema Club left off. Check out Climbing Wallsand see why the Kitsuné label tapped them for their latest compilation. myspace.com/ strangetalkmusic
WORLD’S END PRESS
Another winner from Melbourne, World's End Press are providing copious indie dance highs with epic tunes and wig-outs such as Faithfuland Only the Brave. They're currently on the Oz festival circuit, with debut album Music for the World due in next few months. myspace.com/ worldsendpress
SCREENDEATH
We were tipped off to Bangor man Screendeath by Cathal Funge of Phantom FM. Southern Fried Records are also fans of the Co Down dude’s wriggly, infectious beeps and have released the Packback single. Screendeath supports 2 Many DJs in Belfast on March 19th. myspace.com/ screendeath
Now playing
Jessie Ware Sampha Valentine(Young Turks) The pair coo at each over a beautiful music box of a tune to be released on heart-shaped vinyl on Valentine's Day.
Ham Sandwich Ants(The Route 109) Superb radio-friendly track as the Kells band display a previously unheralded lightness of touch and winning pop smarts.
Smith Westerns Dye It Blonde(Fat Possum) Chicago's glammy metal gurus channel their inner Lennon on a second album chock-a-block with heaven-sent oohs and aahs.
Chalk Numbers I Really Want To Work This Out(Self release) Brooklyn duo aim high with this delicious slice of hooksome, soaring Spectorish pop. Available free from their Bandcamp.
Nicki Minaj/Lil Wayne Roman's Revenge 2.0(Cash Money) Nicki recruits Weezy to spit some verses and rolls out another monster.
